Linda Hall: Fighting the battle of the bulge

Linda Hall is assistant editor at Hawke's Bay Today.

When I started writing Middle NZ I promised myself I wouldn't write about my weight.

Everybody writes about their weight I thought

Well now I know why and what the hell ... promises to oneself are the easiest to break.

The battle of the bulge is a constant issue in some people's lives.

I used to be very blase about it. I was one of the lucky ones. I exercised regularly and ate pretty well. I always told myself life is too short not to have a bit of chocolate now and then or a sausage roll (my favourite).

When I gave up smoking just over four years ago I went mad with exercise. I was running, skipping, going to the gym ... hell I think I lost about 2kg and I thought I was pretty damn smart.

Then winter hit and so the cycle began. It was too dark and cold to get up and go running. I could go to the gym ... but oh it was just too cold. Much better for me to have a few hours extra sleep.

Of course in winter one can't possibly have salad and tuna for lunch every day.

No, far better for me to have leftovers from tea, spuds and whatever.

Too dark to do anything but sit on the couch with a book after work.

The clothes start to get a bit tighter, I tell myself I don't care. I'm not that bad. I can't spend all my life worrying about a couple of kilos.

The weekend arrives and the sun is shining ... okay time for a bike ride. Oh but I'm

soooooo tired from such a busy week.

Then guilt sets in and I go to the gym once a week, go for a walk. The clothes get even tighter. I still don't care.

Winter is great for not caring about your weight. Nice big thick tops, long of course to cover the lumps and bumps that have started to appear, but so what, it's not like I'm going to be parading about in a bikini (sorry readers, that's a terrible image to put in your heads).

So I happily eat sausage rolls and lately quite a bit of chocolate thanks to the Christmas fairy at work who kept filling up bowls of goodies all over the place.

I also like to have a glass or three of wine after a hard day's work. After all I deserve it don't I? Empty calories I'm told and after a glass or two the I don't care attitude takes over as I reach for the chippies and peanuts.

Then suddenly the weather warms up, I get out my summer clothes, look in the mirror and suddenly I care. Oh how I care. How the hell did that get there I screech at my image while pinching my hips.

And so the second phase begins.

Back to going to the gym even though I have to wear long tops, back on my bike, back pounding the pavement. I even went to a RPM (indoor cycling workout) class on Friday.

Every year I do this and the trouble is it's getting harder and harder to get rid of the winter waistband.

I have a bit of help this year. Jamie Loughran owner-operator of Aspyre Gym is giving me a six-week programme and some nutritional advice.

My goal is to lose 5 to 6 kilos. I'll be writing a weekly update in Indulge our weekly health and beauty and food magazine published with Hawke's Bay Today Weekend on Saturdays.

I know it's going to hurt, but I really want to see if the pain and effort is worth it.

Is it easier to just sit back as we age and let those few kilos we gain every winter keep piling on?

I'll let you know.